The horrible thing that may come from this is the backlash Holgate will get if there is insignificant evidence to charge Firminho. Imagine being racially abused and then abused by other fans for trying to speak up about it, it's a really horrible thought, I hope he has the mental strength to cope with that (if it turns out that way)

For some reason the kopites seem to think that if Firminho isn't charged it means he hasn't said anything and Holgate has made it all up, when it fact it means Firminho could well have said it, there just isn't enough evidence to prove it.

Personally I just can't see Holgate making it up, not when he knows there are cameras everywhere. I can however see Firminho saying a word that he thinks is OK in the UK, because it's fine to use in Brazil.

I get there is an argument that Firminho might not have said anything, but surely that's the least likely. Even if he said something completely non offensive that just sounded like the N word, Holgate and the club are within their right to question it.

The horrible thing that may come from this is the backlash Holgate will get if there is insignificant evidence to charge Firminho. Imagine being racially abused and then abused by other fans for trying to speak up about it, it's a really horrible thought, I hope he has the mental strength to cope with that (if it turns out that way)

For some reason the kopites seem to think that if Firminho isn't charged it means he hasn't said anything and Holgate has made it all up, when it fact it means Firminho could well have said it, there just isn't enough evidence to prove it.

Personally I just can't see Holgate making it up, not when he knows there are cameras everywhere. I can see Firminho saying a word that he thinks is OK in the UK, because it's fine to use in Brazil.

I get there is an argument that Firminho might not have said anything, but surely that's the least likely. Even if he said something completely non offensive that just sounded like the N word, Holgate and the club are within their right to question it.

I've heard the "he made it up to stop himself from getting sent off" argument loads of times, its daft, no player would ever do that, no player would grab the ref either

Likes...

My interpretation is that he probably used the same term as Suarez did and the ref heard it.

I think the ref was going to book Holgate and then decided he couldn't book Firmino for racism, and ended up pleading ignorance to it all. He went to 4th official to document that a racist comment had been alleged, but if he hears it, the answer is to send Firmino off. When Holgate makes the accusation, if he's heard something different, explain it to him, he was in the middle of them.

There will be other video footage than what is available to the public, and the ref's mic doesn't have to be activated to be recording. So I think it depends on how the powers want to handle it. But once they start asking Firmino for an explanation I think he's already done for by precedent.

My interpretation is that he probably used the same term as Suarez did and the ref heard it.

I think the ref was going to book Holgate and then decided he couldn't book Firmino for racism, and ended up pleading ignorance to it all. He went to 4th official to document that a racist comment had been alleged, but if he hears it, the answer is to send Firmino off. When Holgate makes the accusation, if he's heard something different, explain it to him, he was in the middle of them.

There will be other video footage than what is available to the public, and the ref's mic doesn't have to be activated to be recording. So I think it depends on how the powers want to handle it. But once they start asking Firmino for an explanation I think he's already done for by precedent.

Few media folk say the ref has already said that he didn't hear anything.